The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-10-12

placed ~ genuine uHu very hpo ~"
mond. This was the decoy. In the
other he had put false diamond,
closely resembling in size and shape
the genuine one in the first ring.
The one he wore and offered to sell
was the true stone. When he had got
it back from the jeweler he had kept
it and had given me the sham one In
exchange for my $50. What was to
do.
The first thing was to ascertain
whether my friend had left the hotel
OF course he had-on the afternoon oil
the previous day; still the scent was
so hot. fancied should have little
difficulty in tracing him. But when J
found him my difficulties would only
begin. OF coures he would swear that
he had sold me the ring with the stone
which the ieweler had declared to be
genuine. might, conceivably, have
substituted paste for the true gem as
well ~ he. In any case. when
thought OF the difficulty oil getting
back my money from an American
wandering about Europe, my heart
sank within me. Even ii the police
consented to help me, takingmy word
against his, even il the rogue were con-
victed. how was to recover the 1000
francs.
"These thoughts passed through
my mind as hurried back to the ho-
tel. Certainly the prospect was
gloomy enough.
81 easily asce~tained that the Amer.
lean had taken the trainfor Paris the
day before, and determined ofollow
him at once. / did not despair oil
finding him, as he would probably put
up at one OF the good hotels.
'"on the way up to Paris l could
think OF nothing but my loss. This
fellow saw had hit upon very safe
and profitable method OF swindling.
In nine cases out of ten the cheated
man would not discover his loss for
Tor years after he had seen the last oil
the American, if, indeed, the trick was
discovered at all Tor the paste was
quitegood enough to deceive q casual
observer and the owner would, of
course, be actuated by profound
faith in. his diamond straight from
Brazil Had it not been for the Incl.
dent OF my finding the ring case
which the rogue had accidentally
dropped, l should in all probability
have unwittingly cheated poor Tu-
renne out OF his money, and he might
afterward have been supposed to be
trying to palm of a spurious dia-
mond for real gem. In all probabili-
ty the fellow made living-and
very good one-by going about Eu-
rope and practicing this trick.
"This idea sent of my thoughts on
n new track, and by the time ! had
arrived in Paris had decided on my
course OF action.
"First OF all made careful ;nqui-
ries at the railway station as to atall
American who had arrived at
Nice by certain train on q proceed
ing day; and, by the help OF some g.
france pieces, found the cabman
who had driven him to his hotel-the
Continental.
"This being ascertained, i chose
quiet, unpretendfng hotel for myself
near one OF the railway stations.
Then emptied the contents OF light
bag on my bed, and, taking it empty
in my hand, | went to theatrical
costumer's and saying ! intended tc
take part in some private theatrlcals,
| hired the costume OF French able.
Ut was part had often played in 3
piece that had a pretty long run in
London some eight years ago, and
had little doubt that | would be able
to acquit myself in it fairly welD.
got the proper dress, wig powder and
everything complete, and having put
all the articles into my bag, went tc
one of the railway stations and took
a return ticket for station q littls
way out IN the country.
''To my disgust found it impossi
ible to get q compartment to myself,
the train was too crowded, but J re
Elected that the trains returning to
Paris would probably be much less
crowded in the afternoon than those
going into the country.
ain this supposition was right. J
hung about the suburban railway sta
ton till O. return train was about to
start. 1t was nearly empty, and a
douceur to the guard secured me the
privacy needed. BY the time l re-
turned to Paris was stout, benev-
olent-looking French priest, in COM
fortably circumstances. My suit OF
tweeds had placed in my bag.
which | took care to leave at the rail
way station. Then made the best
OF my way to the Hotel Continental.
81 was Just in time for the table
d'hote, and as | took my seat no.
ticed with great satisfaction that my
transatlantic friend was sitting not
very far of, and that he had not a
suspicion OF my identity. Nothing,
knew, could be done until after din
ner, so | waited through the tedious